Indiana-PAW Resources To Assist With Lost & Found Pets
Have you found a dog or cat? Has your dog or cat gone missing? While Indiana-PAW is NOT a shelter or rescue, and CANNOT take in animals, we DO offer several resources to help you.
"I've Lost My Pet! What Do I Do?"
Sadly, more than 30% of pet owners will have a pet get lost at some point, and few things in life are as frightening or emotionally upsetting as this experience. Hopefully, you have been a responsible pet owner, and have proper identification on your pet that will enable the two of you to be reunited. Sadly, most Americans don't think of this until it's too late, and as a result, fewer than 2% of lost cats entering shelters are ever reunited with their owners, and only 15% of lost dogs entering shelters are reunited. If you're pet has become lost, here's what to do:
- Check Local Shelters & Humane Societies: The first thing you should do is visit your local humane society or animal shelter. You MUST go in person (shelters have far too many animals to identify by telephone description, and every year, shelters accidentally euthanize lost animals after the owner called and identified the animal and the description didn't ring any bells with shelter staff, who were caring for hundreds of other animals). Even pets with microchips and tags can accidentially be euthanized in busy shelters. DO NOT rely on someone on the phone saying your pet is not there! Visit the Indiana-PAW "Super Database" to find the location of area shelters. ALSO, visit the shelters MULTIPLE TIMES, in case your animal wasn't there the first time.
- Contact Your Veterinarian: Next, contact your veterinarian. If your lost pet was wearing their collar with their rabies tag, your vet may get a call from the person who finds your pet. Make sure your vet knows your pet is lost, so they can help reunite the two of you if someone comes in or calls.
- Make Sure Your Contact Information Is Up-To-Date: If you've lost your pet, and your pet had a microchip, be sure you contact your pet's microchip registry company to see if anyone has contacted them, and to verify they have the most up-to-date contact information for you. Here's a short list of the most popular microchip registries:
- AKC Companion Animal Recovery - 800-252-7894 or http://www.akccar.org/
- Avid PETtrac - 800-336-2843 or http://www.avidmicrochip.com/
- Home Again Pet Recovery Service - 866-PETID24 or http://homeagainid.com
- 24PetWatch - 866-597-2424 or http://www.24petwatch.com/
- Check With Neighbors: Many lost pets are found within just a few blocks of home. Let everyone in your neighborhood know that you are missing your pet, in case one of them finds her.
- Publicize In The Area You Lost Your Pet: Lost and found signs, simple though they may be, are still very effective. Hang posters in areas close to where you lost your pet, and in areas where pet owners congregate (e.g., pet stores, vet offices, dog parks, animal shelters, etc.). Someone may have found your pet, and may see the poster.
- Publicize On The Internet: You can also post on our Lost & Found Bulletin Boards and on Dog Detective, an excellent national website.
- Giving Up: If, sadly, you do not find your pet, use the opportunity as a learning experience. In the future, make sure your pet has identification, and that you are vigilent about not leaving your pet unattended in the yard, and keeping them safe and secure.
"I've Found A Pet. What Should I Do?"
If you've found a missing pet, unfortunately, it's not very likely that you'll find the owner. For reference, fewer than 2% of lost cats entering shelters are ever reunited with their owners, and only 15% of lost dogs entering shelters are reunited. But you definitely want to try:
- Check For A Microchip or Identification: The first thing you should do is, obviously, look to see if the pet has a collar with tags with the owner's phone number. If they don't, then you should go to your local humane society, animal shelter or veterinarian. They will use a microchip scanner to see if the lost pet has a microchip, which will allow the pet's owner to be identified and contacted. They can also look to see if the pet has an identification tattoo. Use our Indiana-PAW "Super Database" to locate humane societies and shelters.
- Call The Microchip Registry: If the pet has a microchip, you should contact the microchip registries listed here to inform them that the missing pet has been found, so they may contact the owner.
- Check With Neighbors: Many lost pets are found within just a few blocks of home. Let everyone in your neighborhood know that you have a found a pet, in case it belongs to someone closeby. Tell your mailman as well, because he is in your neighborhood every day.
- Publicize In The Area You Found The Pet: Lost and found signs, simple though they may be, are still very effective. Hang posters in areas close to where you found the pet, and in areas where pet owners congregate (e.g., pet stores, vet offices, dog parks, animal shelters, etc.). Even if the owner doesn't see the sign, a friend or family member may.
- Publicize On The Internet: You can also post on our Lost & Found Bulletin Boards and on Dog Detective, an excellent national website.
- Giving Up: If you are unable to find the owner and unable to keep the pet yourself, please take a look at our section above on giving up a pet. In addition, if you decide you must take the pet to a local humane society or animal shelter, BE SURE to take them to the shelter that's closest to where you found the animal, as that will increase the likelihood that the pet will be found by its original owner. If you take the pet to a shelter in another county, the chance that the pet's owner will find the pet is reduced to practical 0%.